Montana
Montana FWP files notice to sue the feds over wolverine Endangered Species Act listing – Daily Montanan
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Friday within 60 days if it does not overturn its November decision to list wolverines as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
“In Montana, wolverines continue to do well and inhabit much, if not all, of their available habitat,” FWP Chief of Conservation Policy Quentin Kujala said in a statement. “We work closely with our neighboring states to ensure the continued conservation of these iconic species. Federal protections in this case will only get in the way of good conservation work.”
FWP’s objection to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision involves contentions that the federal agency did not use the best available science about interconnectivity between wolverines in the Lower 48 and Canada, the range of the genetic pool between different populations, future snowpack changes due to climate change, nor wolverines’ supposed resilience to the effects of climate change and thinner snowpacks.
FWP’s notice of intent to sue says that USFWS has previously acknowledged wolverines in the Lower 48 “are not currently in danger of extinction” but also that they are threatened because of the effects “of climate change on spring snow.”
“In reaching this conclusion, the service has neglected to fully consider the breadth of evidence regarding wolverine adaptability to climate change, recreation, and genetic connectivity,” FWP’s Chief Legal Counsel Sarah Clerget wrote. “The service speculates on the impact factors A and E will have on the perpetuation of wolverines, while acknowledging the high levels of uncertainty among the factors. In short, the final rule will not protect wolverines, as there is a dearth of evidence supporting the species’ viability is threatened today or will be threatened by climate change impacts in the future.”
Some of the state’s argument involves different scientific studies USFWS has used in going back and forth during the previous 15 years to make different decisions on whether wolverines should be listed under the ESA in the Lower 48.
In 2008, it found there were not significant differences between the U.S. and Canadian populations, then in 2013 proposed listing them as threatened. But that proposal was withdrawn in 2014 before being reinstated in 2016 by a court order.
In 2020, USFWS withdrew the proposal again, and again found minimal distinction between the U.S. and Canadian populations. But conservation groups sued, and a federal court in Montana ordered a reevaluation, which led to a new Species Status Assessment addendum last year that informed the final rule published in November.
FWP says the USFWS 2020 finding that the Lower 48 wolverine population of an estimated 250-300 wolverines “to be the natural result of habitat fragmentation and not reflective of a difference in conservation status” means the more recent finding of a Lower 48 Distinct Population Segment was made in error.
“Under existing scientific evidence, the Canadian and United States’ wolverine population must be considered as one population. In doing so, it is clear that wolverine populations have expanded further south into the United States, not retreated, and that listing United States’ wolverines as threatened is arbitrary and capricious,” Clerget wrote.
FWP also believes the uncertainty in predicting how climate change will affect the landscape and the habitat of wolverines should not be considered as much of a factor because the state believes the wolverine population is expanding, according to the letter.
FWP said new research from last year from Scandinavia showed wolverines were more adaptable than previously thought to climate change and the effects of reduced snowpack in the spring.
“The primary argument the service uses for listing is how a lack of snow, due to climate change, will negatively affect wolverines; however, the service inadequately considered the potential for wolverines to adapt and thrive under a changing environment, as demonstrated by the best evidence available,” the notice of intent says.
FWP said in the letter that even with the USFWS model that predicts a roughly 30% decrease in snowpack during the next 50 years, other science has shown that the high-mountain areas where wolverines typically den will see less reduction than lower elevations.
“Wolverines have been found to use locally available denning structures in lowland habitats, despite a lack of deep snow and persistent spring snow cover … This adaptive behavior suggests that wolverines are more flexible in their distribution than previously assumed,” the letter says. “These studies are not relying on projections, but provide direct evidence to the level of behavioral plasticity that wolverines have to a changing climate.”
The notice also takes issue with the genetic population size and gene flow science used in the final rule, saying the primary study used was flawed and other studies misinterpreted, and that even if there are fewer paths to genetic connectivity than thought, translocation of the animals could be used in the future if that is the case.
“In the Northern Rockies, wolverines are doing well and states are working closely on monitoring and conservation efforts. This listing is not only unnecessary, it fails to recognize current science,” FWP Director Dustin Temple said in a statement.
Before the decision was released in November, Montana’s three Republicans in the federal delegation — Sen. Steve Daines and Reps. Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke — had called on the agency to delay its decision. On Friday, Republican Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said the decision on wolverines was “illogical and ill-informed.”
“In Montana, we’ve worked hard to manage and conserve the wolverine population and have partnered with neighboring states on research and monitoring efforts to ensure the future conservation of the species,” the governor said. “Adding a layer of unnecessary bureaucracy does nothing for conservation but does everything to undermine our responsible management of this species.”
Notice of Intent to Sue Letter_Wolverines 1.26.24
Carrie Gilbertson has been executive director of Cancer Support Community Montana for just under two months, stepping into the role in April with more than 15 years of nonprofit experience and a lifetime of Montana roots.
The organization provides psychosocial and mental health support to anyone affected by cancer — not just those with a diagnosis, but also family members and others walking alongside them.
WATCH: Meet the new leader of Cancer Support Community Montana 🎗️
Cancer Support Community Montana names new executive director
“This mission of providing psycho-social supports and mental health supports for anyone impacted by cancer, not just that person who has the diagnosis, but also family members, anyone who is walking alongside someone as they experience that often scary diagnosis, that’s just something that’s important to me,” Gilbertson said.
Gilbertson’s role extends beyond the Bozeman office. Cancer Support Community Montana’s Missoula location is already up and running, and a Helena location is expected to be operating soon. Each presents its own set of challenges.
“Each hospital is different. They might have different resources. Their social workers might be connecting to things in a different way. So understanding what those hospitals need, what different participants need in each community, is going to be different just because the communities are different, resources are different,” Gilbertson said.
The Bozeman office has been operating for more than 20 years, providing a foundation that supports the organization’s broader statewide efforts.
“I think this is a crew that looks at what does this community need what do our participants need what are some of the changing landscapes in cancer care what things are the gaps that we see that we can maybe just jump right in and you know let’s see if we can provide that for people so that’s something I really love about this crew that I work with and just this mission that there is some flexibility in being able to adjust and adapt as we learn more,” Gilbertson said.
Those adaptations show up in unexpected ways. The organization converts its parking lot into a pickleball court every Friday morning.
“I didn’t know there was a pickleball court. I pulled in actually with my daughter pulled in and she was is that pickleball court and I was like oh, it kind of looks like it is so yeah that’s fun, every Friday morning we clear out the parking lot and put up the net and I haven’t played yet I’ve been watching just to kind of see how that game works but they take it pretty seriously,” Gilbertson said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 17, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 17 drawing
03-26-49-53-61, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 17 drawing
11-16-18-33-51, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 05
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from June 17 drawing
01-16-17-27, Bonus: 01
Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Montana Cash numbers from June 17 drawing
13-22-35-36-39
Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Death in detention: deported migrant woman describes conditions inside ICE facility
Deported migrant woman recounts harsh ICE detention conditions after her husband died from medical complications inside Camp East Montana.
The Department of Homeland Security told the El Paso Times that two suspected overdoses at Camp East Montana over Memorial weekend were related to an overdose of psychiatric medication and a “self-harm” incident.
In both incidents on May 23 and May 24, the detainees were taken to the Rio Vista Behavioral Health center, a DHS spokesperson said.
The 35-year-old detainee who overdosed on psychiatric medication on May 23 was returned to the immigration detention center the same day and is in stable condition. The 34-year-old who overdosed on May 24 is currently being monitored by ICE medical staff after being returned.
“When there are signs of a detainee self-harming, staff abides by strict prevention and intervention protocol to ensure the detainee’s health and wellbeing is protected,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. “ICE requires annual suicide prevention training and provides mental health service to detainees.”
The DHS spokesperson said that ICE provides “comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody. This includes medical, dental, and mental health services as available, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care.”
The El Paso ICE detention center is the largest in the country, with a capacity to hold 5,000 people. Allegations of human rights abuses have plagued the site since it opened in August 2025.
At least three suspected overdoses have occurred at Camp East Montana, according to 911 emergency calls analyzed by the El Paso Times. The first suspected overdose was reported on Feb. 28, involving a 60-year-old male detainee.
Rising deaths, suicides in ICE detention
At least 50 migrants have died in ICE custody since President Donald Trump returned to office, with 18 deaths occurring in 2026. At least 10 of these deaths were suicides, an investigation by the Associated Press found, including Victor Manuel Diaz, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan migrant who died at Camp East Montana on Jan. 17.
U.S. representatives, including Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, Angie Craig, DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party)-Prior Lake, and other political leaders, have raised concerns about the conditions at the detention center following more than a dozen oversight visits. Congressional representatives have repeatedly raised concerns over detainees’ access to medical and mental health services.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the ACLU, Texas Civil Rights Project, Human Rights Watch and the law firm Farella Braun + Martel LLP sued ICE on behalf of four detainees held at Camp East Montana over “horrific” human rights abuses in May 2026.
Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@usatodayco.com; @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social on Bluesky.
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